Community Advisory Board Activities

The mission of the CAB is to foster and maintain partnerships and open
communication between Penn CFAR researchers and community members. The
CAB also works to enhance HIV education, prevention, treatment and
research activities reflecting both investigators' interests and
community needs.

2nd Cross CFAR CAB Meeting and Conference (June 10-11, 2013)

The 2nd Cross CFAR CAB meeting was held at the Doubletree Hotel in Philadelphia, PA. The two day meeting offered opportunities for CFAR CABs from across the country to network with one another; provided HIV toolkit updates; skill-sharing/training opportunities and discussions regarding a national network of CFAR CABs.

Return to Top
_________________________________________________________________________________

International AIDS Conference Post-HUB Sessions (August 2012)

The Penn CFAR Community Advisory Board, participated on the advisory board to coordinate several post-hub sessions throughout the greater Philadelphia area relaying information gathered at the International AIDS Conference.

Return to Top
_________________________________________________________________________________

Black Heterosexual Men's Health Initiative (Sept 2012- present)

The mission of the Black Heterosexual Men's Health Initiative is to increase physical, mental and sexual health awareness of Black heterosexual men in order to improve health outcomes, decrease health disparities and implement strategies to address unmet health needs. This intergenerational initiative led by the Penn CFAR CAB initially was solely around HIV testing and has expanded to address multiple factors with ultimate goals of affecting educational, social marketing and policy changes regarding Black men's health.

Return to Top
_________________________________________________________________________________

The committee and CAB staff/ interns have been meeting with EDs from across the city and other states to help identify potential barriers to expanded testing and trouble shoot with possible solutions and volunteers to address potential service delivery gaps.

Return to Top
_________________________________________________________________________________

Female Condom Campaign

Penn CFAR CAB in partnership with the Philadephia Chapter of the U.S. Positive Women's Network have combined our approaches and strategies to make FC2 (the new, FDA-approved female condoms) available and accessible to women and girls in the Philadelphia area. Our city-wide campaign to get FC2 into the hands of women was launched at our Hands on Workshop at the Prevention Summit June 15, 2011.

FC2 is the first line of (self) defense to help protect women from HIV, STI?s, and unexpected pregnancies. The female condom is the only female controlled tool women have to reduce their chances of contracting HIV. The female condom also offers protection for people who are HIV positive and their sex partners. Philadelphia has just launched a very broad campaign to promote the Philly Freedom Condom. Now it's time to make sure that women and girls are counted in prevention as well.

Return to Top
_________________________________________________________________________________

AIDS Malignancies Clinical Trials Consortium (AMC)

The
AIDS Malignancy Clinical Trials Consortium (AMC) is a National Cancer
Institute-supported clinical trials group founded in 1995 to support
innovative trials for AIDS-related cancers. The AMC is composed of over
37 Clinical Trials Sites worldwide, five Working Groups, an
Administrative Office, a Statistical Office, and an Operations and Data
Management Office. Collectively, these components develop and oversee
the scientific agenda, manage the groups? portfolio of clinical trials
and other scientific-based studies, and help to develop new protocols.

The CAB serves as an advisory board for the Philadelphia site in collaboration with Dr. David Henry.

Return to Top
_________________________________________________________________________________

Medical Monitoring Project

The CAB Chair serves on the AIDS Activities Coordinating Office
(AACO) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded National
Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) Board, while the CAB serves as the
advisory for the local MMP. The Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) is a
patient survey designed to learn more about the experiences and needs of
people who are getting care for HIV. It is supported by several
government agencies and conducted by state and local health departments
along with the CDC. The MMP will help answer the following questions:

How many people living with HIV/AIDS are getting care for HIV?

How easy is it to access care and use prevention and supported services?

What needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS are not met?

How is treatment affecting people living with HIV/AIDS?

Return to Top
________________________________________________________________________________